Obviously, the debate about Brexit is now over. By handing over our votes to Boris Johnson last week, Brexit will now happen. End of. It’s over, including the shouting. But just when I resigned myself to the misery of my country raising the drawbridge to Europe, Guy Verhofstadt, the EU’s chief Brexit man, holds out hope that maybe all is not lost after all. Here’s his proposition:
It goes without saying that we should all support his view that EU states should grant UK citizens living in the EU the same rights as they have today. By the same token, we should reciprocate with EU citizens living in Britain. That’s not controversial, is it? It’s what he says about associated citizenship for UK citizens who want to keep our link to Europe that more interests me.
For me, it’s not just my heritage. It’s what I believe in. I know that Britain as a country no longer wishes to have political or, it seems, economic links with Europe, other than on WTO terms. I have to accept that, bonkers though it still feels to me. But associate EU citizenship would keep that link for those of us who want it..
It would of course be a voluntary arrangement for those who wished to apply for it. No one would be forced to do so. Perhaps, we could have some form of European passport, too, probably in addition to the British one? I wouldn’t mind paying for that, if it maintained certain rights and privileges. It would be more then a mere gesture from our European friends and for the 48% who have felt totally disenfranchised by Brexit, it would be a form of consolation.
I expect the red tops to explode with rage at Verhofstadt’s comments, but why should they? Associate membership would be an individual choice and the 52% need have nothing to do with it. What’s not to love about that?
